Here came the pitch that would change everything.

"The Earth is going through a significant change," Parker announced, his voice carrying the weight of universal law. "What we calling the Awakening Era. And usually, the early and mid-stages are the most chaotic periods imaginable. Without proper supervision, the planet turns into a chaotic abyss for the next century or so."

The implications hit them like discovering a new business opportunity they'd never considered.

Diana was the first to speak, her military training kicking in despite the universe-ending context. "Awakening to what, exactly?"

"Powers," Parker said simply. "Real ones. The kind you've been hiring other people to use for you."

The room erupted in whispered conversations and sharp intakes of breath.

"Wait, wait, wait," Isabella said, her real estate empire mindset immediately calculating implications. "You're saying regular humans are going to start developing supernatural abilities?"

"Not going to," Parker corrected with the patience of someone explaining basic math to children. "Are. It's already beginning. The Genesis Energy from the Prime Cores is starting to seep into the global consciousness." My Virtual Library Empire (M-VLEMPYR)

Thomas Wilder leaned forward, his business instincts recognizing opportunity despite the reality-bending context. "How long do we have?"

"Without my acceleration? About a thousand years for full saturation," Parker replied casually. "With my influence? Very very significantly less."

The casual way he discussed reshaping human evolution made everyone's blood run cold.

"And we're guaranteed to get these powers?" Elena Wilder asked, her voice carrying the kind of desperate hope that came from watching your daughter manipulate time itself.

"Guaranteed is a rather a weak word for what I have in mind for y'all," Parker said with amusement that made dimensions nervous. "Given your families' exposure to supernatural elements over the years, your bloodlines have been... prepared. You're among the most likely to manifest abilities early."

Alessandro Morello spoke up, his crime empire experience making him ask the practical questions. "What kind of powers are we talking about? Random? Chosen? Can we influence what we get?"

And that... that was the trillion-dollar question.

"It depends," Parker said, his voice carrying the weight of cosmic law. "Bloodline compatibility, personal nature, exposure to specific energies. Your families will likely manifest powers that reflect your fundamental natures."

"Meaning?" Diana pressed, though part of her wasn't sure she wanted to know.

"Meaning the Beaumonts might develop abilities related to conflict and life force, the Harringtons could manifest powers over elements and territory, the Morellos might find themselves controlling shadows and beasts..."

Understanding dawned on their faces like expensive lightbulbs powered by entrepreneurial excitement.

Robert Blackwood, who'd been quietly observing with the patience of someone who'd learned cosmic politics the hard way, finally spoke. "And the chaos you mentioned, My Prince?"

"Imagine five billion people suddenly developing supernatural abilities with no training, no oversight, no understanding of what they're capable of," Parker said, his voice carrying grim certainty. "Now imagine the wars that would start. The accidents. The complete breakdown of every social and governmental structure on the planet."

The scenario painted a picture of unprecedented chaos, but also unprecedented opportunity.

"Jesus Christ," Isabella whispered, her face going pale. "It would be the end of civilization."

"Exactly," Parker said with the satisfaction of someone who'd just made his point perfectly. "Which is where you come in."

Ethan Wilder looked confused, his twenty-one-year-old mind struggling to process the scope of what they were discussing. "Us? What can we do against people with supernatural powers? Fine, right now we can rule over them but we're controlling like seven billion with no powers and if even quater of that suddenly awaken..." he didn't dare to finish it.

Parker's smile was sharp as broken reality and twice as dangerous. "You'll have supernatural powers too. And more importantly, you'll have organization, resources, and experience managing complex systems. While everyone else is figuring out how to not accidentally kill their neighbors with their new abilities, you'll be the ones maintaining order."

The proposition was staggering in its scope and exciting in its possibilities.

"You want us to become supernatural police?" Diana asked, though her tone suggested the idea wasn't entirely unappealing to someone who'd spent her life managing military contractors.

"Blame that on yourself and my mercy, that's what you asked for, you didn't think I was letting y'all off to enjoy things in background, did you? C'mon we already discussed this. I want you to become the infrastructure that keeps human civilization from collapsing while everyone learns to handle power that can reshape reality," Parker corrected. "Think of it as... management consulting for the apocalypse."

The description was so casual it made the cosmic implications somehow worse.

Thomas Wilder was already processing the business implications with the kind of ruthless efficiency that had built empires. "And in exchange for this service?"

"What else? You get to keep your empires from getting dismantled with this coming wave of change, gain supernatural abilities, and have front-row seats to the most significant transformation in human history," Parker said with the tone of someone offering vacation packages to witness the end of the world. "Plus, you get to work with rather than against the forces that actually run this reality."

The offer was too good to refuse and too intriguing to dismiss easily.

"What happens if we say no?" Alessandro asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer and wasn't going to like it.

Parker's smile never wavered, which somehow made his response infinitely more intriguing. "You won't though! But lemme humor you, if you do... well, Earth isn't short of someone who can replace you, then you become part of the chaos instead of part of the solution. And trust me, you'd rather be on the winning side of what's coming."

The choice was simple: evolve or become extinct.

"How long do we have to decide?" Isabella asked, her voice carrying the kind of keen interest that came from recognizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"You don't," Parker said with casual finality that made everyone's souls clench. "The Awakening is happening whether you participate or not. The only question is whether you want to help guide it or get swept away by it."

The most important decision in human history, delivered with the same tone most people used to discuss lunch plans.

Diana looked around the room at the other family representatives, seeing the same calculation in their eyes that was running through her own mind. The same exciting mathematics of opportunity in a world that was about to become infinitely more interesting.

Adapt or die. Lead or follow. Evolution or extinction.

"What's the first step?" she asked recognizing when retreat wasn't an option and advance was the only choice.

Parker's grin could have powered small civilizations and probably would, given what he was planning. "Now that's the right question."

The Awakening Era had officially begun, and humanity was about to discover what it really meant to have power.